Litigation

Academy of Physical Medicine Urges More States to Pass Concussion Legislation--We need to go further

By Michael Kaplen

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) has announced its full support for legislation in each state similar to Washington State's Zackery Lystedt Law to protect young athletes from brain injuries.

The Washington law requires medical clearance before any youth suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury be permitted to return to practice or competition.  The announcement was made at the AAPM&R 71st Annual Assembly held Saturday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle.

Here is a summary of the The Zackery Lystedt Law:

?Requires all school districts to work with their sports rule making body to develop guidelines and informational forms to educate school administrators, coaches, youth athletes, and their parents of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury.

?Requires an information sheet about sports concussions be signed by youth athletes and their parents or guardians.

?Requires that a youth athlete who is "suspected of sustaining" a concussion or head injury be removed from play at the time of the suspected concussion. "When in doubt, sit them out".

?Requires that a youth athlete who has been removed from play receive written clearance prior to returning to play from a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

?Requires private, nonprofit youth sports associations who use public lands, such as school property and parks to be in compliance with the concussion and head injury policies noted above.

While I am in full agreement with these requirements, I believe that legislation needs to go further and also mandate base line testing at the beginning of each season and retesting following a concussion or suspected concussion before an athlete is returned to play. 

Thought must also be given to mandatory medical insurance benefits for the cost of testing, medical clearance and rehabilitative care, if necessary. 

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on November 11, 2010 (boomark / email).